I’d Rather Meet Someone On A Dating Site Than At A Bar

Dating sites don’t deserve all of the bashing they get — they’re convenient, entertaining, and just plain fun. So if you meet your partner on Tinder or OK Cupid, don’t feel embarrassed about it. It’s still a story worth telling. If you ask me, meeting on a dating site is actually better than meeting at a bar.

  1. You choose who’s allowed to contact you. On sites like Tinder, it’s impossible for a man to message you unless you both swipe right. Meanwhile, in a bar, you’re stuck dealing with every schmuck who wants to buy you a drink, and you might even feel the need to leave when he refuses to take no for an answer.
  2. You have preloaded conversation starters.On a dating site, all you have to do is read through a man’s bio to learn about his hobbies and favorite music. That means you can jump right into a conversation about skiing instead of saying an awkward “hello” and hoping that you find something to talk about before he loses interest in you.
  3. There’s not as much pressure.When you talk face-to-face in the middle of a crowded bar, you’ll be worried about the way that you look, how your voice sounds, and if anyone you know is going to catch you leaving with a stranger. Meanwhile, when you’re chatting online, all you have to worry about is keeping your conversation typo-free. That means you can focus on whether or not there’s actual a spark between you two.
  4. You’ll know their occupation and age right away.Online, you won’t sound like a gold digger who only cares about how much money a man makes, because his job will be listed on his profile. That means you won’t have to awkwardly ask him about what he does for a living.
  5. Flirting at home is safer.You never know what kind of wackos you’ll meet at a bar. Meanwhile, if you see his name on your phone screen, it’ll be easy for you to search him on Google to stalk his social media pages. Then, f you like what you see, you can agree to meet up at a coffee shop instead of agreeing to go back to his sketchy apartment late at night.
  6. You’re actually less shallow online.Some people say dating sites promote shallowness, but when you’re online, it’s impossible for you to get lost in the person’s eyes. That means you’ll actually pay attention to what they’re typing, and you won’t want to date them unless they can keep up a conversation.
  7. You don’t have to dress your best.You can snuggle up on the couch in your baggy pajama pants, but the men you speak to will be picturing you in the fancy outfit from your profile picture. Dating sites are the best way to be lazy and social at the same time.
  8. You can ask friends to vouch for your dates.On sites like Tinder, you’ll get matched up with friends of your Facebook friends. If you feel a connection with one of them, you can message your buddies to see if he’s actually a good guy or if he’s just good at pretending to be one.
  9. You’re less likely to settle.On dating sites, you’ll be flooded with messages. The more people that talk to you, the higher your confidence will be. That means you won’t settle for a dud, because you’ll know that you have plenty of options.
  10. You’re not wearing beer goggles.Okay, you could have your phone in one hand and a drink in the other, but at least you’ll be able to text a photo of him to your friends to see if he’s actually attractive. Meanwhile, when you’re at the bar, there’s no guarantee that the attractive guy you went home with will still look attractive when you’re sober.
Holly Riordan is a writer from Long Island, New York who has authored several science fiction and horror books. A graduate of Stony Brook University, she has spent nearly a decade writing for publications including Thought Catalog, Huffington Post, Teen Vogue, and more. You can find her on Instagram @hollyrio and Twitter @hollyyrio.
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